HN Explorer

Ask HN: Is there a god-mode in Windows for users like Bill Gates?

9 points by a_square_peg ↗ HN
Some software seems to be becoming more adversarial to users, adding more spyware-like, non-removable features with each new releases.

Assuming some Samsung execs have Samsung TVs and some Google execs have Android phones and Bill Gates own computers running Windows, wonder if they can somehow disable these annoyance for their own use?

9 comments

[ 4.1 ms ] story [ 37.4 ms ] thread
version_five
Corporate Windows installs generally have the annoying stuff removed don't they? I think the really bothersome stuff is mainly in the consumer editions.
severine
This is a very interesting question, but at the same time a great prompt for snarky answers and humorous hypothesis.

I hope we get serious and informative answers about admin modes etc, but I'm having a bit of fun imagining those frustrated VIP users suffering their untimely updates, confusing dark patterns, and removal of features, so let those come, for once, too.

wgj
Windows has Enterprise SKUs [0] that turn off virtually all of the nonsense and cede control to the IT administrator. This is the Windows experience for corporate execs and anyone else with access to it. Microsoft themselves describe Enterprise Windows as being "For organizations with advanced security and management needs." [1] No lower tier makes that pledge.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_10_editions [1] https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsforbusiness/compare

theandrewbailey
There is literally something called "God Mode"[0] in Windows, but it's just a collection of normal control panel controls that are already available. I didn't find it useful, and it sounds like you won't, either.

https://www.lifewire.com/god-mode-windows-4154662

[0] "God Mode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}" to be exact.

ksaj
It is faster to get to some things with the god mode panel. But not much faster now that there is the quasi-permanent "Type here to search" prompt beside the Windows menu button.
jquast
Related fact: Microsoft Windows was and many other products were developed on SCO Unix (xenix) https://microsoft.fandom.com/wiki/Xenix

Microsoft azure runs on Linux https://www.wired.com/2015/09/microsoft-using-linux-run-clou...

Maybe WSL was just an internal company tool used to keep their own employees from switching to Mac and Linux or keeping them from running away from the job entirely. It really is an impossible OS to develop on, that malware fucker can’t be disabled and absolutely ruins I/O performance

sinuhe69
For people like Bill Gates, I guess they can make a special build, just for him!